Board of Directors
Meetings
Attend a Meeting at the Co-op
Co-op Members and household shoppers can attend Board meetings in person at the Co-op. No advance registration is required however you will be required to sign in and provide proof of membership upon arrival.
Attend a Meeting Virtually
Members can also choose to register to attend meetings via zoom and submit comments for meetings by clicking the buttons below.
Submit Comments to the Board
Co-op Members may submit comments to the board by 2pm the day prior to the meeting. Click the button below to submit a comment.
Policies & Bylaws
You can find the most current copies of the Co-op’s Bylaws here and governance policies here. These can be viewed with Acrobat Reader. (If you do not have Acrobat Reader, you may download a free copy from Adobe.) Our Ends Policy can be found below.
Board Election & Candidate Information
Find information about running for our board of directors, deadlines for candidate and voter eligibility, and past election information and results.
Board Committees
Take an active part in the governance of the Co-op by participating on one of our board committees.
If you have an interest in one of the committees, please contact the Committee Chair for more information or you may contact the Board Administrator at board-admin@sac.coop.
Board Calendar
Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op is run by a nine-person Board of Directors elected by our Co-op members in an annual election held each September. Each Board member is elected for a three-year term and cannot sit on the Board for more than three consecutive terms. The primary responsibilities of the Board of Directors are to provide overall direction and ensure the long-range security and viability of the Co-op.
The Board is responsible for developing policies necessary to carry out the duties of the Board and the functions of the cooperative. Co-op members may choose to be involved in the governance of the Co-op in a number of ways. Besides voting in the Co-op’s annual election, Co-op members may also attend Board of director meetings, sit on Board committees or run for the Board of Directors.
Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op
Board of Directors
Manny Leon,
Board Chair
I whole-heartedly believe that the Co-op is one of the primary pillars of our community.
As a board member, my primary goals will be to strengthen the Co-op’s relationships and agreements with our local farmers to help keep them in business, making the Co-op affordable to all including working on reinstating the senior discount, and ensuring the health and safety of our members and employees when shopping/working at the Co-op.
Alex Jang,
Vice Chair
Being born and raised here in Sacramento, it is my honor to serve the Co-op as an appointed Board Member.
A decade ago, I switched to a natural and whole-foods lifestyle, which helped me lose 80 lbs. and several chronic illnesses. Quality products, like the ones here at the Co-Op, were the key to transforming my health. Now, my dream is to help transform the health of my community, by bringing more members in to access high-quality foods, education, networks, and resources. In doing so, we can further support and invest in our local farmers and producers.
By embodying the co-op’s values and principles, together we can achieve its vision of being a social and economic leader to the community and local businesses for the best quality foods and products sourced locally and sustainably. I am happy to serve you and excited for the adventure ahead!
Kelsey Brewer,
Board Member
I grew up in the neighboring rural mountain community of Amador County and have lived in the Sacramento region for 16 years. I’m a farmer and agricultural scientist and the co-founder of two local urban farming non-profits. I believe deeply in the democratic economic model that underpins SNFC. Our co-op is a critical food system anchor in Sacramento’s community, which relies on us to provide meaningful and dignified livelihoods for our local farmers and food workers, and a viable cooperative model to anchor Sacramento.
As a board member, I aim to contribute toward SNFC’s role as an equitable, accessible, and resilient local food system pillar. My goal is to become inclusive of more Sacramento community members, by balancing our economic goals with affordable, accessible, and culturally-appropriate options. I hope to empower our membership as active participants in the local food system through creating collaborative opportunities, identifying our shared values, improving our democratic engagement, and implementing more community-owned food system projects. I look forward to the opportunity to serve and grow the community of members who actively partake in decision-making processes here at SNFC. I promise to actively listen to our membership, SNFC workers, and our local community members more broadly.
Arnie Sowell,
Board Member
I love the Co-op! Everything about it epitomizes the word community – from its mission of social and environmental responsibility and aisles of natural foods to its friendly, knowledgeable staff and deep commitment to member engagement.
As a newly appointed board member, my plan is to work collaboratively with my fellow Co-op Board members to help us build on our strong foundations and reach for new heights – better serving you, our members, in the process.
I look forward to the opportunity, knowing the work will be meaningful, the ties to our community will strengthen, and that there will be some good fun along the way!
Brian Pimentel,
Board Member
Our Co-op is one piece of the greater food system, in which we have come together to create access to locally grown produce and wholesome food products. While providing education and support to our staff, members, and community.
During my term, I intend to work together with my fellow directors to preserve the Co-op’s core values by ensuring the voice of our members is heard. In addition, I want to strengthen our relationship with local farmers, ranchers, and food artisans. while making our store more accessible and affordable to all people in our community.
Delfina Vargas,
Board Member
Having served on the SNFC Board from 2017 to 2020, including one year as president, I understand the complexities of the position. I’m able to cultivate productive working relationships with diverse individuals. I will seek meaningful engagement with members and listen to staff in order to best serve the Co op.
Prasanna Regmi,
Board Member
I am truly honored to have been appointed to serve our Co-op before the elections in the fall. I love that Sacramento Natural Foods Co-Op is a treasured institution in our community that provides access to high-quality local, organic, and sustainably produced options for all of us. I firmly believe in the Cooperative business model and looking forward to seeing our access grow in the neighborhood.
I am equally looking forward to supporting the future vision and the direction of our stakeholders to continue to expand our footprint and make a bigger impact in our community.
Bernadette Brogden,
Board Member
I graduated from Penn State University in 2013 with a BS in Community Development with a focus on sustainable agriculture. I spent the next six years working on certified organic family farms in Pennsylvania.
I moved to Sacramento in 2019 to pursue a career that would support local agricultural systems, and feel very lucky to have been offered a position at the Sacramento Natural Foods Coop.
I am interested in serving this Co-op and community by becoming a board member because I feel inspired by SNFC’s Ends Policies and appreciate SNFC’s commitment to local farmers and regional producers.
Co-ops like SNFC have the potential to make big impacts on the communities they serve through education, engagement, and economics. I have seen firsthand the impacts purchasing local has had on the local farm community, especially during the pandemic and recent devastating weather events.
I feel inspired to continue serving the Sacramento community and would be honored to be elected to SNFC’s board of directors.
Barbara Mendenhall,
Board Member
I want to serve as a member of the Co-op Board because we need to strengthen our commitment to economic democracy and our co-op community. Our member owned cooperative is a model for sustainable business and a treasure in the Sacramento area.
I will work with my fellow Board members to do my best to help move us forward and ensure our bylaws and Board policies provide the solid foundation to maintain the democratic principles, community focus and member services that have brought us this far.
SNFC Corporate Officers
The Co-op board has elected non-board corporate officers to represent the board on legal documents.